-
Period: Nov 22, 1500 to
Power
-
Nov 25, 1500
Leadership of the Natives
The Iroquois were matriarchal which meant they lived in a society ruled by women. It is a form of social organization in which descent and relationship are transmitted through the female line. On the other hand, the Algonquins were patriarchal which meant they lived in a society ruled by men. It is a form of social organization in which descent and relationship are transmitted through the male line. -
Power Relations Between Amerindians and the Colonial Administrators
Strategic military alliances were implemented in order to protect their economic interests in the fur trade. Hurons (Iroquois) allied with French & were destroyed by the other Iroquois who allied with the British. Great Peace of Montreal was a peace treaty between New France and 40 First Nations of North America. 16 years of peaceful relations and fur trade before war started again. -
Power Relations Between the Colony and the Mother Country
Absolute monarchy: King names administrators of the colony and can still reverse any decisions they make -
Life in New France
Settlers (habitants) had happy lives but it was work: caring for crops, making clothes, fixing tools, preparing for winter. New France wasn’t really developing so settlers became self-dependent. Population became more independent because France was far so the king exercised less control, had contact with the aboriginals (development of an independent spirit and a sense of freedom). Many worked with or lived with natives (voyageurs and coureurs de bois choose their way of life). -
Power relations between the Church and the State
Church is implicated in political decisions because of the Sovereign Council. Priests in charge of parishes & work as missionaries and nuns work in hospitals. Under the old system, companies who held a monopoly were destroying New France which ended and placed New France under the Minister of Marine. 1663, Jean-Baptiste Colbert and Louis decided to implement Royal Government. Council was made up of: Governor, Intendant and Bishop. Captain of Militia wasn't on the Council but still had power. -
Articles of Capitulation
Major conflict ended in N.F. with the fall of Quebec. In September a document which was called the Articles of Capitulation was signed giving the terms under which the French would surrender and it stated:
1. French Militia could return home, no one would lose their property
2. French Regular military would lay down their arms and leave
3. People could practice the catholicism, but the Bishop would have to leave
4. People who stayed would become British Subjects No mass deportation occurred. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris signed to end 7 year war in Europe between Great Britain and France. All the Territory known as New France is given to the King of England except two small Islands (St. Pierre & Miquelon). -
Royal Proclamation
Constitution was implicated to control and assimilate the numerous French speaking people:
1. New name: Province of Quebec
2. Borders only around the St-Lawrence river valley
3. Civilian Government: King appointed a Governor who then appointed members of an Executive Council
4. English Criminal and Civil laws were applied
5. Unused land would be divided by in townships
6. No new Bishop would be allowed
7. No Roman Catholics could hold public office No new French speaking people, only English. -
Difficulties of the first Governors
James Murray found the Royal Proclamation unworkable, only 1% of the population of Quebec was English & Protestant. To make the rest of the French Catholics content, he bent the rules:
1. Allowed a new Bishop
2. Allowed French laws in the lower courts
3. Did not call an elected assembly because it would favour the English Merchants
The English Merchants were strongly opposed to the Governor’s policies and demanded a new Governor. They got Guy Carleton who kept the same policies as James Murray. -
“No one is happy in the new Province of Quebec”
13 colonies were unhappy because they had fought to gain control of Ohio Valley however it was denied. British merchants who had come to Quebec were unhappy because they wanted to have power through an elected assembly similar to those in the 13 colonies, and they expected the colony to favour English interests. Canadians were fearful of the Proclamation because of the changes it brought. They were scared of a possible elected assembly and uneasy about lack of guarantees to their religion. -
Quebec Act
-Guarantees French Canadian loyalty
-Enlarges the area of Quebec
-Denied an elected assembly
-Appointed counsel (minimum 17 members)
-French civil laws were instated, tithe and seigniorial system are back -
Effects of the Loyalists
-36,000 loyalists came to Canada (Most settled in the Maritimes)
-6,000 loyalists came to Quebec (Most settled West of Montreal)
-The English population of Quebec had a sudden increase (1% to 10%)
-They settled according to the Township system
-They gave their settlements English names
-The Loyalists were used to English civil laws & were used to having elected assemblies so they started writing petitions to London for change. After years of complaining they finally got their wish. -
United States of America
-Up until 1763 the Americans needed British protection from the French
-They wanted Western Expansion into the Ohio Valley
-Britain was unhappy with the 13 colonies because they did not give enough in war
-Some Americans had also been trading with the French, therefore Britain wanted to place strict control on trade and income taxes
-American War of Independence caused the loyalists to flee to the Province of Quebec (the only British colony left in North America) -
The Constitutional Act
-The Province of Quebec was split in two pieces called Upper Canada and Lower Canada
-Lower Canada was almost entirely French (160 000 people)
-Upper Canada was entirely English (20 000 people)
-The Ottawa River would be the boundary between them
-In Lower Canada the French kept their religion, civil laws and people could work in the admin
-In Upper Canada the Protestants, would use the township system, English Civil laws -
Representative Government
King; British Parliament; Governor (named by parliament & had veto power); Lieutenant Governor (deputy governor); Executive Council (named by Governor); Legislative Council (named, approve or reject laws from assembly); Legislative Assembly (elected 4 years, approve or disapprove taxes & right to create laws) & Ordinary people (had say of government for 1st time)
Upper Canada- system ran smooth
Lower Canada- Legislative Assembly was French & those above them were English with different interests -
Faults in Representative Government
Legislative Assembly had power to make laws, but whenever they tried, they were shut down because the Governor and his Council had veto power. Two sides had different interests: Wealthy governors & council members wanted to invest money in big business & tax property whereas legislative assembly wanted to tax goods, not property & didn’t want to invest in such large projects. This was worse in Lower Canada where the legislative assembly was French and there were constant issues over language. -
British Immigration
Most British settled in Upper Canada because they spoke English but some settled in Lower Canada because they were Catholic
They greatly increased the population on the Canada’s and made Upper Canada larger than Lower Canada -
Growing Discontent in Lower Canada
Constitutional act established representative government but those who could be elected held no real power. By the 1830’s two distinct groups have formed:
1. British Party: Controlled the councils, spent money on public works
2. Parti Canadian (Parti Patriote): Controlled the assembly, power over taxes
Issues: The two groups were so different no negotiations could occur. Some people known as “Patriotes” began speaking of a violent uprising as a solution. -
92 Resolutions
Louis Joseph Papineau (leader of the Patriotes) wrote 92 Resolutions (list of assembly's demands) which was sent to the British Government and Lord John Russell responded with 10 Resolutions (solutions which didn’t solve any of their main demands). The response was taken as an insult & rebellions broke out in Upper & Lower Canada. As a result, 12 Patriotes were hanged outside Montreal’s prison, 58 were exiled to Australia & Lord Durham was sent to both Canadas to give his opinion on what to do. -
Lord Durham's Recommendations
-Britain should increase immigration in order to assimilate the French.
-The two Canada’s should be united (english now has majority)
-Responsible Government should be granted to eliminate veto power -
Act of Union
Lord Durham’s ideas were first rejected by the British Parliament until the creation of the Act of Union (the 4th constitution)
1. Creates the Province of Canada consisting of Canada East and West (former upper and lower Canada)
2. Canada East and West each had 42 members to its assembly
3. Governor still had control and veto power
4. Canada East and West would equally pay for Canada’s debts (Canada West owed 10 times more than Canada East) Clearly this system was flawed (was not responsible) -
Adoption of Responsible Government
Responsible Government was adopted slowly-
1842: Prime minister would select members of the executive council to from assembly
1848: Governor Lord Elgin was the 1st to not use veto powers & allow Prime minister to have executive powers
Structure of Responsible Government:
-People would now elect the Legislative Assembly
-Prime minister would form the Cabinet who would propose laws that had to be approved by the assembly
Governor & Legislative council were still appointed but did not intervene -
Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences
Charlottetown Conference: Leaders of Canada East/West meet with the leaders of NB, NS & PEI, they left the meeting agreeing to consider a merger.
Quebec Conference: Same members plus NFLD- 72 resolutions were agreed to make merger possible, a federal system, 24 seats to each colony, assembly elected by population & build railway between colonies.
However, people weren't happy so NFLD & PEI withdrew, Dorion’s Parti Rouge opposed the federation but the Assembly of the Canadas passed confederation -
Influence of Church in Quebec
After 1837, bishops became more and more powerful, the cures became the most important person in the parish. Church was still in charge of registering births, marriages & deaths. Church controlled education. Orphanages, Shelters, Charities & Religious festivals still occurred. Church attendance was very high. Protestants were divided. Ministers still influential but not as powerful as Roman Church. Creation of protestant Universities: McGill & Bishops. -
London Conference
July 1st 1867: Leaders of the 4 colonies arrange to release from the British Empire. The Dominion of Canada with its capital as Ottawa was created under the British North America Act containing 4 Provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick & Nova Scotia). The other Provinces would join between 1870 and 1949. -
Federal Government
Now being a Federal Government the Federal Government had certain responsibilities as did the Provinces.
Section 91 (Federal):
-Defense
-Banking and money
-Postal service
-Criminal law
Section 92 (Provincial):
-Education (section 93)
-Municipal institutions
-Hospitals
-Property and civil rights Immigration and agriculture were shared responsibilities between the two governments. The federal government could also disallow any provincial law if it felt was not in Canada's interest. -
Power Relations Between Linguistic Groups and the State
WWI lost a lot of soldiers because of conscription
French Quebecers were upset because they didn’t think it was their war yet they were being forced into battle. WW2 forced conscription and the French were upset yet again. Since 1867: Dominance of English in business and politics and protection of the English minority in Quebec in the constitution. Quebecers are upset that they aren’t getting paid equal amounts as the Anglophones and don’t have the same job opportunities as English. -
Power Relations Between Union Movements and the State
1st strikes, partial legalization of unions and implantation of American unions. Royal Commission on the relations between capital and labour. Union demands regarding health and safety laws, for the protection of children, union struggles to ensure a minimum salary to workers.
Anti-Labour Laws: Padlock Law, right to strike and use of police against the strikers
1944: Adoption of the Labour Relations Act
1964: Labour Code recognizes the right to strike to all workers
1972: Strike of united front -
Power Relations Between Feminist Movements and the State
Foundation of the National Council of Women; actions of the suffragettes
1961: Electing the first woman to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
1964: 16, which ended the legal incapacity of married women.
1965: Foundation of the Federation des femmes du Quebec (revised Civil Code, establishment of maternity leave, decriminalization of abortion, equality (in theory) of men and women)
1996: Law on pay equity is adopted -
Roman Catholic Church
It continued to control education, hospitals, orphanages, and welfare services. It was also influential in government, unions and the caisses populaires. The Church continued to promote large families, rural life, and Christian values. -
Idealization of Rural Life
It was believed that the rural communities were the best places to promote traditional values such as family life, gratifying work and religious beliefs. Agriculture was and should continue to be at the heart of Quebec's economy in order to avoid urbanization and associated problems such as unemployment. -
Power Relations Between Movements for Social Justice and the State
Early 20th century, associated with communism, union movements and feminism
1930: The depression brings about the creation of many charity groups and aid organizations.
Pressure they exert on the government contributes to adoption of laws and different measures intended to protect the average citizen (Commission des normes du travail, Régie du Logement, etc.) -
Maurice Duplessis
The government led by Maurice Duplessis
continued to believe that the state should
not intervene in either the social or economic
sectors. Consequently, its role was basically
a supporting one which consisted of offering
subsidies to the Church and favourable
conditions for investment purposes. -
Two Major Groups Challenged the Traditional and Conservative Nature of Quebec Society and its Government
- Union leaders: Accuse Duplessis of opposing social progress & serving American interests rather than the interests of Quebec workers which caused numerous strikes.
- Intellectuals and Journalists: Pierre Elliott Trudeau & René Lévesque opposed the Duplessis government & attacked the conservative nature of Quebec society in newspapers, magazine articles and television programs
-
Main Features of the Quiet Revolution
To make the Quebec government the major force behind Quebec's social and economic development by greatly increasing the role of the state in both of these sectors (Hydro-Quebec became government owned, trans-canada expanded and the Montreal Metro was built)
To modernize Quebec's educational system and to allow it to catch up to the other provinces in Canada. (Parent Committee, free public school till 16, MEQ created)
To weaken the influence of the Church and to end Quebec's political isolation -
Power Relations Between Financial Circles and the State (Reciprocal Influence)
Involvement of businessmen in politics facilitates access to grants, laws and regulations in favour of companies and banks. The practice of funding of political parties by businessmen causes scandals and a denunciation of patronage. From 1960, the state takes control of certain sectors of the economy, subsidizes Quebec companies and recognizes the rights of employees. -
Quebec Nationalism
The October Crisis had been put down but not all the moves towards French independence were violent. Office de la langue française was created to promote the French language. The language issue was very big in Quebec politics and several pieces of legislation were passed. Official language act, Bill 22 (French Official language) was implemented. -
Power Relations Between Nationalist Movements and the State
Nationalists sentiments developed and a movement towards Quebec independence gains momentum
Quebec nationalists form various political groups advocating sovereignty or independence for Quebec
1966: Rene Levesque quit the Liberal party to form the Mouvement Souverainiste association to form the Parti Quebecois
1967: General de Gaulle of France comes to Montreal to celebrate 100 birthday of Canada (Expo 67) -
October Crisis
The FLQ was a terrorist organization whose main goal was to attain independence for Quebec from Canada through the use of violence. FLQ kidnapped James Cross and Pierre Laporte. Prime Minister Trudeau used the war measures act to call out the army and hundreds of FLQ members were arrested. Laporte’s body was found in the trunk of his car, Cross was released. -
Power Relations Between Environmentalist Groups and the State
Since 1970, pressure from environmental groups (measures and laws to protect the environment) and their impact on the population via the media influences public policy
1970: Creation of the Ministry of Environment Quebec
2002: Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Canada
Environmental movements present in Quebec: Greenpeace, the Green Party, l’Action Boréale, etc. -
Bill 101
French language is the priority. Only French signs were allowed in public spaces, only children with English speaking parents educated in Quebec could go to English schools (since changed to Educated in Canada). English fought back with Bill 178 and Bill 86. -
Separation of Quebec
Federalists want Quebec to stay apart of Canada
Separatists want Quebec to be independent because of their cultural differences and oppressive struggle. Leader of the PQ felt so strongly about the issue that he held a referendum in 1980, about 60% voted against the issue of separation. Another referendum was held in 1995 led by Jacques Parizeau with an even closer result of 50.6% against and 49.4% for. The issue is still not resolved and another referendum could be held in the future. -
Native Issues
In the summer of 1990, Mohawk warriors established road blocks on the borders to their reserves in Oka just outside Montreal, when a golf course wanted to expand its nine holes onto native land. The natives militarily organized themselves and the Canadian Forces were called in to handle the situation. The Oka crisis lasted 78 days, when the stand-off finally came to an end with out armed conflict, however the issues still remained. The Charlottetown Accord was created to deal with these issues.
